You may think it's a bit late to start planning your frugal Christmas - but be positive - there's plenty of time to start planning for Christmas 2013!
Frugal is not mean, miserly or miserable - it's being wise with your money to make it stretch further in the direction you want it to. It's a kind of game and if you're up for the challenge - you can get a bit of a buzz out of your bargains and your wheeling and dealing.

Wednesday, 19 December 2012

If things are really bad this year and you have no money, an overdraft and debts, don't stress about buying expensiveChristmas presents for everyone, it's really not worth getting deeper in debt for the sake of one day and all the commercial hype that comes with it.Instead, decide on small gifts for those who you are actually with on the day like Rocky Road or Fudge, prettily wrapped, but for those you may not see, send or give later an Official Christmas Cheque - print these off and fill them in with a gift of your time. It could be walking Aunty's dog for a month, weeding Grandad's flower bed or mowing the lawn (later on in the new year of course!), giving a non-driver a lift to a bigger out of town shopping centre or painting a room for anyone who can't manage it themselves. Put them in an envelope and trim with a bow. Done! A gift for (almost) nothing!

Sunday, 16 December 2012

Fudge is a favourite with many people and makes a lovely gift in a pretty bag decorated with ribbon and a label, so I was really please when I came across this great Phil Vickery video on Youtube showing how to make fudge (or if you prefer to read the recipe and instructions, Carnation has his recipe on their website).It may now be too late to start knitting or crafting a present, but it's never too late to knock up a batch of fudge!Phil explains clearly how to make fudge with just 4 basic ingredients; milk, condensed milk, butter and Demerara sugar, what equipment you need, what may go wrong, how to beat it for smoothness and how to test for setting. Plain and simple instructions and no complicated ingredients (although you can add cherries, or chocolate and nuts if you want to).A real Frugal winner in my opinion!

Wednesday, 12 December 2012

Make someone a gift of Tutti Frutti Fudge, Christmas Chutney, basic Fudge or Rocky Road,the recipes are all there in my Happy Frugal Christmas frugal recipes.For chutney, re-use any small screw-top jar you have, cut a circle of fabric (doesn't have to be a Christmas print - red, green, blue or red check will be fine) secure with an elastic band and cover with your parcel ribbon and tag.For cookie or sweetie gifts you really need the bags you can buy from cook shops, or squares of the cellophane that florists wrap flowers in - sometimes they can be persuaded to sell you a metre or two!All these home-made foodie gifts are, of course, cheaper if you make more, because there are always ingredients and bags etc left over, so if you can, get together with a friend, put on the Christmas CDs and have a Christmassy cook-up! That way you share both the costs and the proceeds - and have some festive fun at the same time!